Sully Erna Talks Godsmack’s Legacy, Touring, and the Future: Backstage at RIFF Fest 2024

Date: September 28, 2024
Location: Pine Knob Music Theatre

Meltdown: Backstage here at RIFF Fest with Sully Erna from Godsmack. Good to see you again, brother!

Sully Erna: Good to see you as always.

Meltdown: How’s the tour going, man?

Sully Erna: Excellent! Well, this is only the third show here.

Meltdown: Right, I remember you guys were here around the same time last year.

Sully Erna: Yeah, we’ve been on the road for almost two years now with this album, but this is show number three on this fall tour.

Meltdown: You’re doing some fall shows and radio events, right?

Sully Erna: Exactly.

Meltdown: So, what’s new with the band? Anything exciting happening?

Sully Erna: No, just playing music. We’re home now.

Meltdown: There’s been some confusion about whether you guys will be releasing new music. Are you working on anything?

Sully Erna: No more new Godsmack music. There won’t be any new singles or anything. We decided to honor the catalog of music we’ve created over the last 30 years and enjoy the greatest hits moments.

Meltdown: Many bands are shifting away from albums and just dropping singles. What are your thoughts on that?

Sully Erna: It makes sense these days since nobody’s really buying full albums anymore. People make playlists of their favorite songs. But I want to exit while we’re still in the era of full-length albums with artwork and lyrics that provide a complete experience. I don’t want to invest a year and a half into a piece of art just for it to be picked apart. We have a lot of singles—27 top ten hits—which makes it hard to play them all in one night. It’s time to honor our music and give fans what they want.

Meltdown: That’s an amazing problem to have!

Sully Erna: I’m grateful for it. When I see my favorite bands, I don’t really want to hear their new albums. I want to hear the classics. If they don’t play those songs, I’d be pretty upset. For our fan base, we have to honor that.

Meltdown: What kind of pressure do you put on yourself as the frontman of Godsmack?

Sully Erna: None. I just do my job. I grew up in a blue-collar environment and learned to work hard. I take my responsibility seriously but don’t view it as pressure because I love what I do. It’s a lot of work, but that’s just part of the job. I have a great team around me to help execute the vision. I just focus on the music and let the show happen.

Meltdown: I just introduced the guys from Alexandria, and they were full of nervous energy backstage. Do you feel that before going on stage?

Sully Erna: Every show is different. Some of the band members still feel anxious before going on, but I’m pretty chill. I listen to music, sip some tequila, and when it’s time to go, I just dive in. I don’t dip my toe in; I just go for it.

Meltdown: That’s a great attitude. So, how has fan perception changed since the documentary was released?

Sully Erna: I hope it inspires them. The documentary showcases determination and never giving up. It’s about perseverance. If you stick with it, you can accomplish anything. What you do with that achievement is up to you.

Meltdown: I remember watching that documentary; it really highlights hard work and overcoming challenges.

Sully Erna: It’s about accepting disappointment and learning to move past it. Many people give up after setbacks, but you need to dig deep and find the strength to move forward.

Meltdown: Your upbringing is fascinating, especially the stories from Lawrence, Massachusetts. What’s it like there?

Sully Erna: It’s a challenging inner city and has been cited as one of the most violent cities in America. It’s a hub for drugs, and the situation is tough. They’re trying to clean it up, but it’s a gnarly place.

Meltdown: Coming from a place like that, how does it feel to be a part of Boston’s rich musical history?

Sully Erna: I’m proud of it. Boston has produced incredible bands, and there’s a sense of pride and brotherhood among us. It’s shaped who I am.

Meltdown: And you’ve got legends like Aerosmith and Rob Zombie from Boston.

Sully Erna: Exactly! There are so many great artists from there. It gave me the edge to push through challenges.

Meltdown: Speaking of history, with 27 number one singles, have you thought about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Sully Erna: We’re eligible for nomination now, but I don’t focus on that. I’m just doing what we do. It would be an honor, but we’re just continuing our journey.

Meltdown: There are certainly bands less deserving in there right now.

Sully Erna: That may be true, but I try not to judge. This lifestyle is tough, and we’ve been blessed to play rock music for a living and make people feel good. That’s what matters to me.

Meltdown: Funny enough, Aerosmith was inducted by Kid Rock, which connects Detroit and Boston.

Sully Erna: That’s cool!

Meltdown: Thanks for your time, Sully. It’s always great to catch up with Godsmack. I’ll never forget the drum solo you guys do. I once watched Scott Travis from Judas Priest enjoy it at Rocking the Range.

Sully Erna: That’s awesome to hear!

Meltdown: Sully Erna from Godsmack, thanks for being here with us!

Sully Erna: Of course, thanks for having us!